When Bluff Ridge Elementary School Principal Megan Fairbourn writes something on her whiteboard, things happen.
Just one year ago, when she arrived as principal, she could see the playground wasn’t a place where all students could participate.
So, she wrote on her whiteboard: All-Abilities Playground. Then she began spreading that vision, and things happened.
A community fun run raised about $10,000. The Davis Education Foundation provided a grant of $10,000. A Utah Department of Recreation grant funded $65,000. An on-site visit and discussion took place with State Board of Education (USBE) member Rod Hall. And this past June, the USBE approved a $120,000 allocation for the playground.
Then, with the assistance of district landscape architectural coordinator Trevor Kimball, the playground was designed, and a contractor moved forward to install the playground.
It features a smooth surface, accessible merry-go-round, glider and sensory equipment. The design gives students who use wheelchairs or walkers a chance to move around safely and play alongside classmates instead of watching from the sideline.
Prior to the ribbon cutting, many students enjoyed the various apparatus. including Lydia and Jenny, who have physical limitations and whose parents spoke at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Sharee Petrie, mother of Lydia, said, “Making friends, class parties, and so many other moments in childhood are special,” she said. “But when your needs are different, those moments look different. And that's what makes being here so special and meaningful.
“Getting to watch our children have a place where every single one of them belongs means so much,” Petrie said. “A playground is more than swings and slides, and climbing structures for children. It is the place where friendships are made.”
Oswaldo Briceno, father of Jenny, explained his daughter had just come home from the hospital, yet really wanted to attend the ceremony.
“As you can see her, she's really joyful to be here and everybody knows her. … And it's really good … and we really appreciate it,” Briceno said. “There is no words to describe it as a parent but to have your kid enjoy it with other kids."
The proposal Fairbourn shared with the USBE and which was funded, in part through Federal Mineral Lease monies, was to construct the playground “as an experimentation in the use of facilities development designed to improve the quality of education for elementary students in Utah.”
Fairbourn said research consistently supports inclusive playgrounds as a high-impact intervention for increased peer interaction and social integration, improved physical health and activity levels, reduced behavioral incidents during unstructured time and enhanced social connection and emotional well-being.
As part of the experiment, educators will track behavior referrals, monitor attendance, observe recess participation and track Acadience reading growth.
Board member Hall, who cut the ribbon at the ceremonial event, commented, “I think ultimately, the fruit of all of this would be if schools across the state would be able to have these playgrounds as well. That's kind of what we're hoping for… So thank you so much again for the privilege to be able to be involved in this. And it's just amazing to be able to see it come to pass.”
Fairbourn added, “This playground is the result of people coming together and saying, our kids are worth it, and I hope that every time a student steps onto this playground, they feel that message
“… Today, we don't just cut a ribbon," she said. "Today, we open a door to a place where every child can say, this is my playground.
Donors that also contributed money or in-kind support during earlier fundraising efforts, were Chick-fil-A, Hope of Utah, H&S Plumbing, Lola, Minky Couture, Rich Development, Smith’s, Tanner Clinic and Walmart.